Satna

Geography

Satna is located at 24°20′N 80°29′E / 24.34°N 80.49°E with an average elevation of 315 metres (1,352 feet).

Climate

Demographics

As of 2011 Indian Census, Satna had a total population of 280,222, of which 147,874 were males and 132,348 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 32,774. The total number of literates in Satna was 209,825, which constituted 74.9% of the population with male literacy of 79.5% and female literacy of 69.7%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Satna was 84.8%, of which male literacy rate was 90.1% and female literacy rate was 78.9%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 38,978 and 9,381 respectively. Satna had 54699 households in 2011.

As of 2001 India census, Satna had a population of 225,468, of which males 120,203 were males and 105,265 were females. Satna has an average literacy rate of 69.6%, of which male literacy is 76.2%, and female literacy is 62.1%. In Satna, the population in the age groups of 0 to 6 years was 33,205.

Economy

Satna is in the limestone belts of India. As a result, it contributes around 8%–9% of India's total cement production. There is an abundance of dolomite and limestone in the area and the city has ten cement factories producing and exporting cement to other parts of the country. The electrical cable company Universal Cables in Satna is among the pioneers in the country. The city of Satna is known as the commercial capital of Baghelkhand. The city is among the few most promising cities of Madhya Pradesh because of the several new industries planned by some of the reputed industrial houses in the country. The city has witnessed a sharp growth in the post-liberalization era (after 1993). Major problems faced by the city include inadequate electricity, poor road conditions, and air pollution from atmospheric wastes of cement factories. Satna is known as the cement city of India.

Transport

Airways

Satna has an airport named Bharhut Airport, built in 1970. The closest major airport is in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh, which is approximately 192 kilometres from Satna. The nearest major airport to Satna in the state is Jabalpur Airport which is approximately 200 kilometres from the city. Another airport is Khajuraho airport (HJR) which is approximately 112-kilometre from city.

The city is served by the Satna Junction railway station, an important junction under the Jabalpur railway division of the West Central Railway zone. Located on Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line, the station connects Satna directly to major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Varanasi. It also serves as a key transit hub for pilgrims and tourists traveling to Chitrakoot and Khajuraho.

Education

Satna has a general literacy rate of 73.8%, according to the 2011 Madhya Pradesh Census, with the rate varying from 71% in the rural areas to 83.8% among the urban populace. Chitrakoot's first rural university, Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramoday Vishwavidyalaya, was established in 1991; it is one of sixteen state government universities in Madhya Pradesh. Satna has more than 3,300 primary, secondary and postsecondary schools. Prominent colleges in the city include AKS University (a private university established in 2011), Government PG College, Government Girls College, and Government Polytechnic College.

Notable people

• Gulsher Ahmed, former governor, Himachal Pradesh
• Raj Jain, professor at Washington University
• Sharat Saxena, actor
• Shivanand, former speaker, Vindhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly
• Arjun Singh, former chief minister, Madhya Pradesh
• Govind Narayan Singh, former chief minister, Madhya Pradesh
• J. S. Verma, former Chief Justice of India
• N. N. Wanchoo, Senior Civil Servant and later, Governor of the States of Kerala and Madhya Pradesh